Im glad that michael did come back. I think its sad that Mercedes wasnt able to provide a car that enabled Michael to fight at the front of the field. He got better every year since his comeback as well. Thanks for all the great moments Michael.

Ditto, Garagiste.
Also agree, my_own_shadow.
MS came from a different F1 game-running flat out-and, like Keke before him, these "economy run" races could not have been much fun.
Still, Seven titles are seven titles...

I was never as involved with or excited about his three years at Mercedes as I was with his years at Ferrari, but it is nevertheless somewhat sad to see him go. That said, I always thought he'd have done well if he could at least get a trophy - which he did in Valencia. In that respect I can't be too disappointed. Mercedes though obviously still has a long way to go before it can be called a top team. It'll be interesting to see what Hamilton can do next year.

Pirelli and the The Technical Working had way more to do with MS form the past 3 years then Mercedes. He simply could never grasp how best to use the tires and really, how to drive lap after lap conservatively - hence why he was a caged animal and causing some silly crashes. Not driving on limit lap after lap as he was used to must be very fustrating and not very enjoyable as far a challenge is concerned, couple that with the DRS making passes simple and its not was he necessarily enjoyed or choose to cope with moving forward.

Frankly, the more I ponder it the more it makes sense to call it a day. Mercedes haven't given any reasons to indicate 2013 will be any more successful the this year. Tires are still going to be the same headaches for him. Only option would be another team and he's probably not up for that a 3rd time! Ferrari Mercedes then another one...

I'm absolutely gutted he's leaving, and my already dwindling interest in this sport will mostly disappear from 2013. That said he'll always rank as the greatest driver I've seen, and luckily the one GP I witnessed him at (Britain '12) he was on it the whole weekend. Best of luck in the remaining races Michael, and thanks for all the great memories you've given me over the years.

...This championship's back in our hands now...we win the last six races we win the championship

Pirelli and the The Technical Working had way more to do with MS form the past 3 years then Mercedes. He simply could never grasp how best to use the tires and really, how to drive lap after lap conservatively - hence why he was a caged animal and causing some silly crashes. Not driving on limit lap after lap as he was used to must be very fustrating and not very enjoyable as far a challenge is concerned, couple that with the DRS making passes simple and its not was he necessarily enjoyed or choose to cope with moving forward.

It's been nothing but excuses since the first season. I'm glad there are only six more races left. I never saw any passion or desire from him. A new generation of F1 fans were introduced to a journeyman driver who failed to live up to expectations.

I would have loved to see him do it for another season. However, he said back in 2009, it would be a three year project. If anything, this shows us what a racer he was even significantly past his prime days of 1995-2002 seasons. The pole at Monaco in 2012 told us that he can perform at this level even at his age. The speed was there and the skill sets were clearly visable from that pole; almost vintage Michael when he was changing brake bias in the corner at Monaco like he would do with Benetton and Ferrari on the edge. I certainly had the absolute pleasure of following and watching his career from the 1990's and now. Even if he's past it, he can thrill us like no other driver can even in his "down" periods of his career and "highs." Top three driver of all time, indeed. Certainly the best I have seen. Countless of wonderful races and poles he had (2012 Monaco is one of them).

I can say this with confidence... There will never be another Michael Schumacher.

I was never as involved with or excited about his three years at Mercedes as I was with his years at Ferrari, but it is nevertheless somewhat sad to see him go. That said, I always thought he'd have done well if he could at least get a trophy - which he did in Valencia. In that respect I can't be too disappointed. Mercedes though obviously still has a long way to go before it can be called a top team. It'll be interesting to see what Hamilton can do next year.

I didn't think I would be, but I'm quite sad Schumi is retiring again.

Despite what the critics say about his performance since his return, and the illegal advantages he had in the past, He really is a legend and the past three years have seen him improving year on year, adapting to regs, rules and cars completely different to when he retired, to match his much younger team mate this year, and score a great pole position at a track where the driver makes a big difference.One of my regrets is that I wasn't born or introduced to F1 sooner to appreciate just how great he was, of course having watched all of the season reviews, watched many individual races and read opinions on him by journalists I've got an impression of what he achieved, but it's a sad feeling that I was never able to be there at that time and experience history in the making for myself. Regardless of what many will say, F1 will be poorer for his absence, and I think anyone who states that his comeback has tarnished his reputation doesn't understand that it was about a racing god past his prime, buoyed by past glories, fighting against time and new opponents for the chance to sip again from the chalice of success just one more time, his failure making it all the more poignant and him all the more human.

I didn't think I would be, but I'm quite sad Schumi is retiring again.

Despite what the critics say about his performance since his return, and the illegal advantages he had in the past, He really is a legend and the past three years have seen him improving year on year, adapting to regs, rules and cars completely different to when he retired, to match his much younger team mate this year, and score a great pole position at a track where the driver makes a big difference.One of my regrets is that I wasn't born or introduced to F1 sooner to appreciate just how great he was, of course having watched all of the season reviews, watched many individual races and read opinions on him by journalists I've got an impression of what he achieved, but it's a sad feeling that I was never able to be there at that time and experience history in the making for myself. Regardless of what many will say, F1 will be poorer for his absence, and I think anyone who states that his comeback has tarnished his reputation doesn't understand that it was about a racing god past his prime, buoyed by past glories, fighting against time and new opponents for the chance to sip again from the chalice of success just one more time, his failure making it all the more poignant and him all the more human.

Alonso is smart. He knows what it takes to drive a midfield car after having a race winning machinery for few seasons before. He knows what it takes to always be competetive fighting for top positions. He knows what it's like to be a Ferrari leader. Only selected few would really understand the level of commitment it takes to keep doing it year after year and it seems he does that pretty well. However I bet neither he thinks getting 5 more titles is an easy task nor sees himself competetive 10 years down the road.

Back then in 2009/2010 the Formula One business was in desperate need of some positive momentum: Renault was embroiled in a scandal surrounding a staged racing accident, BMW and Toyota had decided to go their own way and it was crisis time for the big teams Ferrari and McLaren-Mercedes. The interest in Formula One seemed to be waning.Back in the spotlightDW's Stefan Nestler says Schumacher is a true sportsman

Schumacher decided to return and with him came the spotlight. Suddenly Formula One racing was interesting again and people were eager to watch to see how he would fare.

...In the end it has become clear that Schumacher is simply a human being, who could drive faster than anyone else – for a while.

You can take your own advise, don't make just throaway trolling statments, and then run and hide behind blah blah later one.

Seriously what on earth are you talking about?

It wasn't a trolling statement. It was me stating that in spite of what is said by some commentators (of which there are a few) about his performance since his return and illegal advantages he had in the past in my opinion he's still a legend and has impressed me on his comeback.

Now quite frankly I'm done with this weird and bizarre line of discussion, unlike others such as yourself who can barely conceal your dislike for drivers such as Hamilton, I have a healthy respect for all of the drivers and never feel the need to post in other driver threads with the sole aim of winding up a particular fanbase, to which I think my post history could attest. My aim was simply to convey the positive impact his returning to F1 had on me.

It's a shame that overzelous fans such as yourself are not only unable to appreciate another fan offering their best wishes, but seek to find meanings within those words which aren't there.

I think it is a good thing he had the common sense to call it quits when it was the time. He lost the seat because he thought the team would wait for him; but he is no longer the driver who takes inferior machinery to the sharp end of the grid; he is nowadays the guy who crashes a lot in friday practices, and who is quite evenly matched with Rosberg. People would remember him for his first stint in F1. His second one? It will probably be referred to in similar terms to that of Michael Jordan in Washington.

I think it is a good thing he had the common sense to call it quits when it was the time. He lost the seat because he thought the team would wait for him; but he is no longer the driver who takes inferior machinery to the sharp end of the grid; he is nowadays the guy who crashes a lot in friday practices, and who is quite evenly matched with Rosberg. People would remember him for his first stint in F1. His second one? It will probably be referred to in similar terms to that of Michael Jordan in Washington.

Some of the biggest crashes he has had have come during Fri practices even during his first stint..If you do not explore the limits during practice, there is no way you'll find them.

made me a fan of the guy himself this time around. Got a feeling there are quite a few other people who have come round to liking him this time around from really hating him years ago, so I suppose you could say for a lot of people it increased his legacy in a weird way rather than detract from it.

It's been nothing but excuses since the first season. I'm glad there are only six more races left. I never saw any passion or desire from him. A new generation of F1 fans were introduced to a journeyman driver who failed to live up to expectations.

'never saw any passion'- yeah, it's not like he makes up places at the start or is near the top of the stats in attempted passes or anything. I can't disagree when you say his comeback hasn't lived up to his/Mercedes expectations(that's obvious), but to say he had no passion is incorrect. A 43 year old getting pole in Monaco. Total lack of passion there.

It's been nothing but excuses since the first season. I'm glad there are only six more races left. I never saw any passion or desire from him. A new generation of F1 fans were introduced to a journeyman driver who failed to live up to expectations.

You should buy a color TV with sound, it would do you no harm. Racing in 2010 and qualifying in 2011 has been hard stuff for Schumacher but racing in 2011 and qualifying and racing in 2012 was very good considering his age, the Pirellis. A few mistakes here and there, well, some were clumsy and that was not good but he certainly has worked his ass off. Too bad F1* failed him at the times it looked like something was coming.

You should buy a color TV with sound, it would do you no harm. Racing in 2010 and qualifying in 2011 has been hard stuff for Schumacher but racing in 2011 and qualifying and racing in 2012 was very good considering his age, the Pirellis. A few mistakes here and there, well, some were clumsy and that was not good but he certainly has worked his ass off. Too bad F1* failed him at the times it looked like something was coming.

I found myself rooting for him a lot more during his comeback than in his first career. But it's probably time for him to move on for good.

We'll all move on just like we did in 2007. But this time I think it's more like the right time. Back then it seemed like he was forced out at the top of his game. He's also been forced out this time, but he's not in the same position that he was at the tail end of 2006.

I don't think it has damaged his legacy to the sport. Neither do I think it's enhanced it. It's just been another chapter, and has produced enough memorable moments, good and bad, to be part of the story. OK it wasn't like Lauda's return, but it wasn't like Jones either.